Green has Gone From the Margins to the Mainstream
Kimberly-Clark Australia, in partnership with WWF-Australia and Banksia Foundation host thought leadership event
Sydney, July 6, 2015 /3BL Media/ - To coincide with World Environment Day, Kimberly-Clark, in partnership with WWF-Australia and Banksia Foundation, hosted a leadership forum to discuss the role of NGO’s, businesses and brands in inspiring a sustainable future.
The discussion acknowledged the powerful role that businesses and brands can play in inspiring change and the need for continued collaboration across business and NGO’s, as well as government.
It was also acknowledged that green consumerism had moved from the margins to the mainstream with GFK Roper research saying ‘Going Green’ is the number 2 consumer trend in Australia and number 1 consumer trend globally[1] with the green market valued at $12 billion according to The Mobium Group.[2]
Robbert Rietbroek, Managing Director and Chief Executive K-C Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands said: “It’s more than just tapping into the green market, it’s about tapping into what Australian consumers want, which is to buy from trusted brands with great quality products that deliver to their needs. They also want to be assured that these trusted brands are doing the right thing by the environment and the community, and that the parent company that makes them abides by the highest ethics.
“Going Green is certainly mainstream and social and environmental considerations are now core to the consumer brand trust equation,” explained Rietbroek during his presentation.
A recent Nielsen survey on corporate social responsibility also finds that three in five Australian consumers think more highly of a company that supports worthy causes and over half feel increased loyalty to those brands and companies. Importantly, one third of Australia’s say they buy from these companies, for this reason, each month.[3]
As the only partner of WWF’s Love Your Forests program, Kimberly-Clark has committed worldwide to sustainable sourcing of forest fibre. They also work to educate people about the importance of sustainable forest management. This includes promoting Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certification - the mark of responsible forestry.
WWF-Australia CEO, Dermot O’Gorman said: “Collaboration and partnership is critical within and among sectors in order to take action on many of the environmental and conservation issues the world faces. It’s great to see large companies like Kimberly-Clark, with its consumer facing brands taking a proactive and holistic approach to sustainability.”
At the event Kimberly-Clark also launched their latest Sustainability Progress Report highlighting measureable deliverables across their three pillars of sustainability - People, Planet, and Products.
Please visit the 2014/15 Online Progress Report here, go straight to the new website or view the 2014/15 Sustainability Highlights Fact Sheet.
About Kimberly-Clark:
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C’s brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With well-known and trusted brands, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To learn more about the company's 142-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.
Kimberly-Clark Australia
• Kimberly-Clark is a global leader in the ‘essentials for a better life’ across Consumer and Business-to-business markets.
• Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) is headquartered at Milsons Point, Sydney NSW.
• The company markets leading household brands including the KLEENEX®, KLEENEX® COTTONELLE®, HUGGIES, U BY KOTEX®, VIVA®, POISE® and DEPEND® ranges.
• Kimberly-Clark Professional represents the company’s B2B business.
• KCA employs over 1400 employees in Australia and operations include:
- Millicent Mill: KLEENEX® Tissue, KLEENEX® COTTONELLE® toilet tissue and VIVA® paper towel
- Albury Mill: Nonwoven products,
- Ingleburn Mill: HUGGIES® Nappies
- Distribution centres and sales offices in major capital centres
- For further information visit www.kimberly-clark.com.au
For further information contact:
Farah Kataieh, Communications Manager
T: 02 9963 8087
M: 0415 749 528
[1] GFK Roper Research
[2]The Mobium Group
[3] Nielson Survey, 2014
